A Guide to Brushes

Standing in front of a brush display at your local art store may confuse you due to the impossible array of choices. But once you understand a little about brushes, you can easily settle on a few good ones that will work for you.

Following are the basic styles of watercolor brushes which you will find on the rack at the art supply stores. Understanding their uses will help you select the ones that work best for watercolor.

Mop

DESCRIPTION AND USAGE
A mop is a round, full version of the wash brush, made of soft, absorbent natural hair. It is useful for laying in large areas of water or color, for wetting the surface, and for absorbing excess media.

Oval Wash

DESCRIPTION AND USAGE
Wash brushes come in varied shapes. The oval wash has rounded hairs, flat ferrules, and produces a soft edge, with no point. A wash brush is useful for laying in large areas of water or color, for wetting the surface, and for absorbing excess media.

Round

DESCRIPTION AND USAGE
Round ferrule, round or pointed tip. Useful for detail, wash, fills, and thin to thick lines. A pointed round is used for fine detail. A detailer is a pointed round with very short hair.

Script/Liner

DESCRIPTION AND USAGE
Pointed, narrow brush with very long hair. Liners are shorter and narrower. Short handles, round ferrules. Large color carrying capacity. Useful for delicate lettering, highlighting, outlining, and long continuous strokes.

Square Wash

DESCRIPTION AND USAGE
Wash brushes come in varied shapes. The square wash can produce varying shapes and widths, and often has a short, “flat-footed” handle for scraping, burnishing, and separating watercolor paper from blocks. A wash brush is useful for laying in large areas of water or color, for wetting the surface, and for absorbing excess media.

Hake

DESCRIPTION AND USAGE
A hake brush is an oriental-style wash brush on a long flat handle. It is useful for laying in large areas of water or color, for wetting the surface, and for absorbing excess media.